? Draft formed part of previous bargaining agreement
? Teams to begin making college picks from 1am BST
The NFL plans to go ahead with its annual player draft as scheduled on Thursday while it appeals against a federal judge's ruling to lift the league's lockout of the players. The draft will begin at 8pm local time (1am BST) in New York.
"This draft was part of the expired CBA [collective bargaining agreement]," said a spokesman, while confirming the draft would proceed as planned.
The NFL is seeking a stay from the eighth US circuit court of appeals after Judge Susan Richard Nelson's decision to lift the lockout. It also wants the court to rule on the league's appeal of her rulings. Nelson, a Minnesota-based district court judge, on Wednesday denied the NFL's request for a stay of her Monday ruling that lifted the lockout.
"The NFL has not met its burden for obtaining a stay pending appeal ... The league has not made a sufficient showing that it is likely to succeed on the merits," she wrote.
While the court proceedings continue, the NFL has told its 32 clubs to follow current rules and practices until otherwise advised by the league. But confusion continued other whether players could use training facilities.
"The doors are still closed and, as I understand it, they will remain closed until the appeals process is completed," said the Washington Redskins defensive end Vonnie Holliday, after he and others tried to enter the team's facilities.
But lawyers representing NFL players in their antitrust lawsuit said the league should be open for business.
"The clubs must open their facilities to allow players to work out, meet with coaches and otherwise perform their jobs; and the NFL and the clubs cannot collectively continue to refuse to deal with players," wrote the attorneys James Quinn and Jeffrey Kessler in a letter addressed to NFL players and agents.
"It is our view that the NFL and the clubs will be in contempt of court if they do not comply with the order unless and until they hear differently from the eighth circuit."
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